The other facility is California City Detention Center, the largest ICE detention center in our state. Both were owned by CoreCivic, a private company, and as part of that deal, DHS purchased Otay Mesa for $739 million — even though it was recently valued at just $168 million. (And yes, Donald Trump owns stock in CoreCivic, but his blatant corruption is a whole other conversation.)
For now, CoreCivic is still running the facilities day to day, and we have a lot of unanswered questions about what this deal actually means. I’m deeply concerned it’s an attempt to ramp up local immigration detention, prevent Congressional oversight, and shield the government’s actions from public scrutiny and accountability.
But let me be super clear: changing the deed of who owns this detention center doesn’t change the obligation to treat every single person humanely, and respect their legal, civil, and human rights.
I’ve inspected Otay Mesa numerous times, both announced and unannounced.
At a recent visit, I raised concerns about medical, legal, and language access issues directly with ICE and CoreCivic representatives, pushing for answers on behalf of everyone in our community who has reached out and shared what they’ve seen and heard. I’m grateful to all the folks who’ve been calling and emailing my office — thank you!
I’m going to continue showing up and asking hard questions. Not just because conducting oversight is my job, but because our community deserves transparency, accountability, and dignity. ICE promised answers to my questions and concerns, and I’m going to hold them to it.
Our community deserves to know what is being done in our name. Because I don’t believe what this administration is doing is making us safer. In fact, it’s making us less safe.
Most of the people held at Otay Mesa are there because of civil violations, NOT violent crimes — but they were often violently detained by ICE agents in riot gear while at work, or arrested when they showed up at their immigration court hearings.
I’m not going to let a change in ownership at these horrific detention centers become an excuse to shut Congress out.
So while I keep pushing back, I ask that you keep it up, too. Keep showing up for your neighbors and speaking out against injustices — that’s how we make a difference right now.
– Sara
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.